A Comparative Study of Sustainability Policies in Green Hotels

The tourism industry contributes approximately ۱۰.۴% to global GDP according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC, ۲۰۲۳), making sustainability practices increasingly crucial for long-term economic viability. This study examines sustainability policies in five-star hotels across Tehran and Istanbul, focusing on international certification standards including LEED, ISO ۱۴۰۰۱, GSTC, and Earth Check. The research methodology involved surveys from ۳۲ five-star hotels (۱۸ in Istanbul, ۱۴ in Tehran) and interviews with hotel managers conducted between March and August ۲۰۲۴. The findings reveal that Istanbul hotels demonstrate more advanced sustainability practices, with ۶۱% holding at least one international certification compared to ۲۱% in Tehran. However, Tehran shows significant potential for growth, particularly given Iran's commitment to increasing renewable energy capacity to ۱۰ GW by ۲۰۲۵ as reported by the Iranian Energy Ministry. The study concludes that Tehran can emerge as a regional leader in sustainable hospitality through strategic implementation of international standards and leveraging its unique advantages in renewable energy resources.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sustainable tourism ، green hotels ، Environmental certification ، Hotel management ، Tourism development ، Middle East tourism